At 2:37, someone commits suicide in the school lavatory. The day is told up to that point from the viewpoint of six different students.

With their father away as a chaplain in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, male friends start to become a part of the household.

When Tess Kelley realizes her daughter Jenny Kelley still isn't over her divorce from musician Rick Meadows, the irresponsible, ever-absent father of her little boy Jesse, and thus fails to make progress with friend and promising potential fiance Miles Healey, she places an ad on her daughter's behalf on a lonely hearts internet website. She then starts an anonymous relationship through the dating service with charming British-born literature professor Peter Campbell, who lives in America. Then Peter comes to meet Jenny in person, but who will end up with whom or stay alone?